The Amazing Johnathan invented a magic trick to perform on himself. It’s called “Hide the Pill.”

It didn’t work out too well.

“I was taking so much medication I decided to stop taking one of my pills,” the magician said. “Well, after a while I couldn’t breathe. I figured out which one I needed.”

This went on for eight months. A.J. has been prescribed up to 18 pills to stay alive, a startling achievement given that he was given one year to live in 2014. He turned 60 on Sunday, celebrating with a small group of friends and his wife, fellow magician Anastasia Synn.

The event was marked in a macabre way by Mike Hammer, the Four Queens comic magician, who presented A.J. with a gravestone and a “Happy 60th birthday” message. The piece is a testament to the magician’s unexpected survival.

“I can’t believe it, either,” Johnathan said Tuesday afternoon. “I feel pretty good, actually. I just take my medication as directed, try to stay out of hospitals and not think about it.”

A.J., whose legal name is Johnathan Szeles, has not performed this year in Las Vegas (his most recent date in town was at Rocks Lounge at Red Rock Resort last October). He has been battling the degenerative heart condition cardiomyopathy, and in 2014 his doctors told him he had about a year to live.

“Obviously,” he says, “that diagnosis was completely wrong.”

A.J. is the focus of the documentary “Always Amazing: The True Story of the Life, Death and Return of the Amazing Johnathan,” which screens at the Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival on Sept. 23. The doc premiered March 10 at the Just for Laughs Film Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has dates Oct. 5 in the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, Illinois, and Jan. 18 at Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Synn takes much of the stage time, giving A.J. a chance to pace himself. She just appeared on Penn & Teller’s “Fool Us” and is the subject of a lengthy feature in the trade publication Vanish. A widely regarded stage performer, Synn has been married to A.J. for eight years and his sidekick for the past five. These two are still carrying on, in a magic act that refuses to disappear.

On the topic of magic …

Windows Showroom at Bally’s looks like the next magic box (that’d be an apt name for it) entering 2019. Caesars Entertainment has been working to take over that venue for months. This event should lead to the relocation of Wayne Newton and the Bronx Wanderers. Xavier Mortimerand Santiago Michel (host of the Spanish-language “Illusion Mental” show) are two Sin City Theater magic mainstays who will be seeking a new place to perform, too. According to the current blueprint, this strategy should work for all of those entertainers.

We just mentioned him …

Newton was spotted at the South Point on Monday, recording a promotional spot for NBC and Sunday’s South Point 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Newton was similarly filmed by the network in advance of the Vegas Golden Knights-Washington Capitals Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox is coming to the Strip, at the Terry Fator Theater at The Mirage, for eight dates running Nov. 2 to 11. All shows are 7:30 p.m. Bradlee and Postmodern infuse a big-band swing vibe to music of any genre (“Straight Up,” by Paula Abdul, “Goldigger” by Kanye West and “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses are common covers).

Love the move by MGM Resorts to hook this band into one of its venues, even if the Fator Theater is not exactly groove-conducive. But the band most recently played The Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall in April, and — from those who were there — there was some serious dancing going on. This is a show that Vegas needs.

Tune this in

In a very Vegas booking, Slash featuring Miles Kennedy & The Conspirators appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” at 11:35 p.m. Wednesday on ABC. Column fave and Vegas native Frankie Sidoris is on guitar and Sin City Sinners founder Todd Kerns is on bass and Brent Fritz on drums. Kimmel, of course, is also from Las Vegas and attended UNLV.

Cool hang alert

Travis Cloer, late of “Jersey Boys” and a crazy-great performer wherever he appears, joins “The Cocktail Cabaret” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Shows are 6 p.m. at Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace. I dig T.C., and not only because he allows me to refer to him as “T.C.”

The cocktail, as made by lead bartender Taylor Cole at Town Square in Las Vegas, changes from deep blue to magenta because of a chemical reaction between its butterfly pea flowers and citrus agave. Heidi Knapp Rinella/Review-Journal

Cirque du Soleil cast and crew donate their time and talent to this year's "One Night For One Drop" performance at the "O" Theatre in the Bellagio. The event takes place March 8, 2019, and benefits the One Drop organization. (Mat Luschek/Review-Journal)

Chinese New Year Parade

Chinese New Year parade takes place on Fremont Street. (Bill Hughes/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

New Manzo restaurant a key part of Eataly

Nicole Brisson, executive chef of Eataly, at Park MGM in Las Vegas, talks about new restaurant.

Workers at Excalibur raised a tent, which will be the home of "Fuerza Bruta," a temporary show that will run from March 7 to September 1, 2019. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Roc Boots Make For Glittery Festival Wear

With 3-inch-tall chunky heels, cleated platforms, and sparkly glitter, you’ll want to wear these to dance the night away. Sally Cull, product and development for Roc Boots Australia, assures you that you can. (Janna Karel/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Get A Custom-painted Jacket At Las Vegas Fashion Event

On the first of the two-night Commotion event, clothing brands connected with consumers, offering shopping, giveaways and customization opportunities. (Janna Karel/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The Venetian Celebrates The "Year Of The Pig"

The Venetian hosted dancers to celebrate the Chinese New Year and "Year of the Pig." The dancers performed a traditional eye-dotting ceremony and lion dance. (Mat Luschek/Review-Journal)

Pepe the truffle-hunting dog

Jose Andres knows that quality black truffles can also be found in his native Spain. He’ll be sharing some with the world for a week, starting Monday. From Feb. 11-17, his Cosmopolitan restaurant Jaleo will be showcasing four special dishes made with Spanish truffles discovered by the truffle-hunting dogs of his friend Nacho Ramírez Monfort. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The famous and newly restored, Hard Rock Cafe guitar sign is working it's way to a permanent home at the Neon Museum Boneyard in downtown Las Vegas. It will be moved in six pieces and take five days for reconstruction. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Hard Rock Cafe guitar sign moves to Neon Museum Boneyard

The famous and newly restored, Hard Rock Cafe guitar sign has been moved to its permanent home at the Neon Museum Boneyard in downtown Las Vegas. It will be moved in six pieces and take five days for reconstruction. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Hard Rock Cafe guitar sign moves to new Las Vegas home

The famous and newly restored Hard Rock Cafe guitar sign has moved to a permanent home at the Neon Museum Boneyard in downtown Las Vegas. It will be moved in six pieces and take five days for reconstruction. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Las Vegas band Otherwise release song and video in tribute to slain cousin

Adrian and Ryan Patrick, brothers in the band Otherwise with drummer Brian Medeiros, talk about the release of a tribute song to their deceased cousin Ivan. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @rookie__rae